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» Appearance Description: Semyon, or Simon, as he's known by those who don't seem able to wrap their minds around Russian pronunciation, is a tall man, broad of shoulder and strong of build, standing at 6'8" and weighing in at approximately 235lbs, with the kind of well-muscled build typically only found on professional athletes and martial artists. His blond hair is typically kept short and swept backwards, but other than that, it isn't well cared-for. His face usually has some stubble around his chin, but he rarely lets his facial hair grow into a full beard and will shave with his sword before he lets a mustache grow in. On the left side of his face is a vicious scar, surgically straight and tapering from an entire inch and a half at his chin to a fine red line that stops just before his left eye. Semyon's eyes are a warm brown, shot through with flecks of green and typically magnified slightly by the wireframe glasses that he wears to correct for nearsightedness.

Semyon favors simple clothing, and can typically be found in plain white shirts, black jeans, and brown hiking boots, with the addition of a long, dark overcoat on overcast, rainy, or cold days. He carries with him a plain black gym bag, which contains, among other things, his sword and sword belt, if he is not wearing them openly, as is often the case in a modern society. The sword belt is a plain, but well-maintained, black leather belt with a place to attach a scabbard on the left side of the body. The blade itself is a plain affair, well-forged by Semyon's father by use of Chi but unadorned by frills and decorations. It is a bastard sword; double-edged, straight, four and a half feet long from guard to tip and with a balance and grip that allows for either one or two handed use.

Semyon's gait is the confident stride of one who has trained their whole life with a martial art; back straight, steps long, head held high and constantly taking in his surroundings. He does not shy away from his height or the depth of his voice. When he speaks, it is a deep baritone that can thrum subtly through a loud room, or shatter conversation and background noise with high volume and strong, resonant tones, as needed. His spiritual energy, when in use, is similarly strong and calm: he doesn't project much of his chi outward, as it has a natural tendency, enhanced by his training, to sit close to his body, only circulating slowly. When it manifests as a visible aura, Semyon's Reiatsu is a deep ocean blue, most evident around his eyes and hands.

» Appearance Picture:

II. Personality

» Personality: By and large, Semyon is a calm and polite, if not necessarily nice, individual. While he doesn't go out of his way to save people or help the downtrodden, he can usually spare a kind word and possibly some other form of aid for those he meets on his travels. He respects people in general, sees the ideas of "home" and "property" as important concepts, and typically does not try to make waves in public. He enjoys the wandering lifestyle he possesses, and is a natural social chameleon; he picks up languages, accents, and customs swiftly, easily learning how to integrate himself into any background so that he doesn't stand out more than a man of his stature does naturally.

That said, Semyon is also pursuing a goal with his wanderings. He seeks strong opponents, the better to test and refine himself as though he is metal being forged. These opponents need not be living or even sentient; Semyon has swum lakes in the depths of winter and scaled mountains in the heights of summer, and will take on whatever challenge he feels will test him the best. He has no need to vanquish these opponents. He has no need to even emerge victorious. He simply wishes to test himself further, and, in the words of his master, "reach heaven through violence."

When Semyon enters a fight, he becomes almost an entirely different person. He casts off conscious thought, focusing instead on his chi and willpower and allowing the instincts honed by twenty years of dedicated training and combat to guide him. He does not hesitate with his strikes, nor does he doubt their results; instead, in a fight, Semyon's defining characteristic becomes his dedication. He does not attempt, he simply does, in his mind, and failure to complete an action is the result of outside interference, not his own intent. Rather than worry about if a foe will block a strike or penetrate his defense, Semyon embraces the present fully, reveling in the dance of weapon on weapon and accepting the events of the fight as they come.

» Likes:Strong opponents (Rejoice in the fight!)Swords (The proper weapon.)Quiet (The better to think.) Mountain Ranges (The most majestic of views.) Snowfall (Purity, enforced upon the world 'till life breaks it apart.).

» Background: Semyon's story begins long ago. Centuries ago, in fact, when the first person with the name of Leonti became spiritually aware. In the midst of World War Three, this ancestor awakened to the world of Hollows, ghosts, Shinigami, and other things. He was a retired soldier, and took up arms against the Hollows and Demons that would occasionally reach the remote Siberian village. When he had a child, he taught that child how to fight as well, and so began the tradition of the Lionhearted, Siberian wanderers who sought out all manner of techniques for use against their supernatural opponents.

After a few decades, this became an almost religious process; Leonti children would venture out in the world to seek enlightenment in matters both martial and not. The family motto was first coined in these early decades; "Reach Heaven through Violence." Over the centuries, the family style evolved towards melee weapons, finding them more effective than firearms against the creatures of the night, and eventually focused on the usage of the bastard sword. A century ago, Semyon's great-grandfather, for whom he was named, traveled to a monastery in Tibet and learned under the monks there, and thus was the use of Chi incorporated into the White Lion Style.

Semyon himself was born in the family's home village, a nameless little hamlet in the depths of Siberia. From the age of seven, he trained in the use of the sword, as was tradition. At the age of twelve, as was the new tradition, his father guided him through the process of awakening his Chi. Most of Semyon Leonti's life has been decided by family tradition; from his training to his departure at the age of eighteen. In the nine years since, he has learned what it means to be free to choose, and has relished in that freedom. Eventually, he will choose to return home, marry, and raise the next generation of Lionhearted children, but until then he will wander the world, seeking every challenge, every secret, and every technique he thinks worth taking.

» Natural Attributes: White Lion Style: Semyon's family have been swordsmen (and women, equal opportunity ass-kicking is the name of the game for the Leontis) since before they bothered to keep track of their family history. They train from the age of seven to use the sword, and Semyon is no exception. The family style focuses on the use of Chi, and is made to do two things very well; fight the supernatural, and be improved upon. The White Lion Style that every Leonti learns is made to be modified to that Leonti's needs over the course of their life, and thus focuses on providing a solid grounding in as many areas of swordsmanship as possible.

V. Shiyong

» Sei Abilities: Hunting Blind: A variant of Yincang, instead of completely dampening the energy that he gives off, Semyon weaves it into a tight sphere, two feet in radius, with himself as the center. Semyon can sense any disturbance in the sphere, though this does not necessarily allow him to dodge it. In addition, to use this technique, Semyon has to have an extremely tight leash on his Chi, so any sort of distraction or damage disrupts the whole thing. Also, obviously, entering the sphere allows one to sense Semyon automatically, as the area is suffused with his Chi.

White Lion's Claws: While Semyon prefers his own sword, any vaguely sword-shaped object will do, as the White Lion Style's first technique focuses on the ability to make a sword from anything via the use of a temporary, bastardized form of Chengtan. The White Lion's Claws allow Semyon to circulate Chi down any object in order to form a cutting edge, or reinforce it against attack, but it only works on something that can be used like a sword; pipes, scrap metal, and 2x4s, for instance, are all valid, but a wall or shield would not be. The ability lasts for four posts, with a two post cooldown period between uses.

» Dou Abilities: Lion Swipe: Semyon's signature Yoh technique, this ability allows him to project his sword slashes across distance, sacrificing power for reach. Semyon swings his sword and uses it as a focus for his Yoh, extending the blade with a deadly protrusion of Dou Chi.

VI. Chuxian

» Awakened Appearance: When using Chuxian, Semyon's eyes glow a vibrant blue, and a tracery of blue-green lines crawl across his limbs above his blood vessels.» Awakened Powers: Lightning Blood Stance: This is actually the stance that Semyon uses to focus his Chi for Chuxian, and is thus the only technique that he gains from the awakening, but it's a good one. It heightens his reaction time to a degree that allows attacking or dodging mid-Crescent Step, enabling him to utilize the fast movement technique more effectively in a fight. With practice, he could even develop specialized moves, such as the Senka, but even without unique techniques, Lightning Blood Stance is a potent power indeed.

Semyon Leonti stomped through the snow drift on the lonely mountain trail, looking out at the world below him as he ascended one of the least peaks of the Himalayas. Everything looked so small from up here; large farms he'd passed on the trip up here looked like children's toys; their tenders ants, the livestock slightly larger insects. The tall Russian's coat blew around his ankles in a strong breeze, the winter air biting at his skin in a way that has been familiar to him since childhood. These mountains feel like home to him; the snow, the wind, and the cold all combining to the familiar caress of the remote Siberian village where Semyon was raised.

Semyon was snapped from his reminiscence by shouts from above him. He looked up to see a trio of climbers, in the fancy gear he's come to associate with tourists in this mountain range. One of them appeared to have made a mistake with the placement of a piton, and the whole chain was destabilizing. Honestly, they could have just used the trail instead of going up the side. Slower, yes, but safer, and it allowed one to savor the view of more than just the mountainside. With a put-upon sigh, Semyon focused his chi around his legs, crossing the distance between his current position and the cliff nearest to the climbers in the blink of an eye, feet barely disturbing the snow until he fully touched down. With an almost bored expression, the man reached down over the cliff's edge, seizing the first and highest member of the climbing chain and hoisting him bodily onto the snowbound cliff. Readjusting his grip allowed Semyon and the climber to pull up the other two members of the trio.

"English?" The tall Russian confirmed, then, when the three answered with a chorus of affirmatives and nods, he continued. "You know," Semyon scolded, "There is a trail, and the view is both much better and much safer from there. It may be worth the delays." The climbers had the decency to look properly contrite. Being a behemoth of a man, and also the man who saved their lives not two minutes prior, has some benefits when dealing with and influencing people. Still, you're nobody's babysitter, and if they were challenging one of the Himalayas, they know what they're doing, potentially fatal mistake aside. Rather than accept the mens' thanks, Semyon simply returned to his prior position on the trail and resumed his walk, eager to see more of the countryside from the heights of the mountain.

White Lion's Claws: While Semyon prefers his own sword, any vaguely sword-shaped object will do, as the White Lion Style's first technique focuses on the ability to make a sword from anything via the use of a temporary, bastardized form of Chengtan.

This was the only thing that popped out at me, this would need a formal number of posts it lasts and a post cooldown, rather than just a broad "temporary" mark, before I can formally grade this. If you need any help with that, just hit me up.[/mod]